TomSwede

Tri tones are fun to work with. I cheat alot with gold since it's quite easy to apply (but that's my Danish dye). It can be put on top of anything it seems. Nice looking item! Tom

That came out sweet as an applepie, yummy! Tom

Oh thank you Zman! I needed to hear that, today was two steps forward and one step back, lol. That's just what happens when you sleep about 4 hours per night to get time to work leather, usual job, a little time with family and messing with this stupid computer (got some HD troubles). I use Motorola with bluetooth setup (great stuff) when I stand on the bow of my longship. I am going to get back to posting items shortly I think, just got a few quirks to work out with the final pieces of the big rodtube I work with. It's my first so assembly is the smallest bit of this, I got problems with thinking ahead, lol. I'm kinda slow with that, normally I just yield my axe and ask questions later well I just gonna keep trying to get better and better with this and yup dyeing is hard, I really feels like the first time every time, I wonder if that will ever stop. I'm dreaming of one day to know this area as a solid science. Vikingsalut (no nazibullf*****crap!!!): Hail! Tom Edit: Oh gotta add this,commenting on others stuff is a great way of learning I think. It makes your brain to start to work with aspects from within oneself rather than just reading someone elses practice (it should read a combination between the two is even greater).

I agree with Drac, sell 'em! Or keep them as souvenirs. They look good, I especially like they way you worked with pointed side of the backgrounder. I've never tried that but the effect is awsome with this one. Tom

I agree with Roo and Spider and Tammy! Those look real nice! Hope to see more! Tom

Thank you Linda and Myriam! I think alot of the stuff I do has to do with all good response here and off course all the gathered wisdom and helpful pointers! Tom

He he he We're some 6-9 hours ahead of you in time. Ok I'm also very anxious to get it done so I get to it, off course. BUT..last night when I transferred this pic something crashed the photodrive, bahh AND I recently had problems with my windrive SO I HAVE NO FREAKIN BACKUP OF MY PHOTOS CUZ THE BACKUP DISK IS CURRENTLY A SYSTEM BACKUP DISK...how annoying. I just thought no way in hell I would be so unfortunate that I'd get this at such a bad timing. Usually I have photodisk always backed up. A second backup disk has been planned for sometime but ehum leather is expensive here. This month I actually was gonna buy that disk BUT my cellphone BROKE DOWN and the carbattery too so I rescheduled that to next month and was going to restore my old photobackup someday this week. AAAAHhhhhh I'm so mad at myself. That disk has about 40-50 000 photos that I precious alot so I just gotta give it some time aswell, starting now. Only slept 6 hours last couple of days to have time for my family aswell, lol. Well,, performing some system repair now and take a powernap meanwhile and return to tube in the evening. Stay tuned and thanks for cheering me on, I'm just that kind of guy that really needs a kick in the butt to keep going sometimes! Tom

Just go back to my original post 'bout this and disregard the other and experiment away. Thank you for showing interest in my work! Tom

Nice touch Spider!! Your son is really pounding on, a good photo that shows us your sincere devotion. Doesn't it look like he's walking the tool already?? That's fast learning! My son's ten and have actually began to draw cartoons again (there's been alot of nintendo DS lately) and has also began to come in to my working room and showing a little interest so I gotta have a sitting with him soon. Tom

Wow Dave, already told you I love the design and that colouring job makes it so nice to look at. Tom

Thank you Kimber! The lines of the pentagram came out crooked, mainly bcause of errors never noticed when transferring to the leather. Saw them after I started the carving. Tom

Sneakpeak at the tube. Laced and temporarily fitted on to the innertube. Next pic post will be in show off when it's done, I got some stuff left with the cap and also will start with a purse tomorrow or so. Tom

Oh brothers, thank you alot! So then it's just back to the drawing table with an I M logo and Eddie, lol. Why haven't I thought of it?? Truthfully the hair is scaring me a bit with figure carvings but I did some hair stuff on that flask viking. I wanna do the original style Eddie if I get to it. I think I M is good belt stuff but my shirt's always hanging over it so I consider belts a bit of waste for myself. Maybe I can't plant that idea with some friend and I think I know one guy with tucked in shirt that will like the idea, he he gonna work him a bit. Quite loaded with work now so I take it as it comes. Judas Priests hellbent for leather is also a cool theme one could work with to pay tribute to old heroes oh and Accept-London leatherboys but hm well , my friends would make funny remarks if I had that on me. Tom

Thank you Pip! I post a pic now that'll show the basic dyejob and applied on top of that was some Danish ROC gold dye. Then I sealed it all with Fiebings acrylic spray, one coat. Next I painted some Fiebings pro oil yellow dye onto the checkered part, this made it to blend with the sealer (the sealer dissolves when applying) so I had to be careful with that step. Once the yellow sealer part was dried up I applied antiquing on top of all, wiped off and sealed again. I may add that sealing the gold and antiquing it really brings out the gold colour allright 'cuz the type I use is more champagne really if left on it's own. Tom Edit: found the other pic that shows after gold was applied.

Thank you Ken! Everytime someone ask I write it down, lol Thanks back for all that you share, loved that vest you made! Tom

That's so cool! Gotta try and talk my 10 year old in on the craft aswell. Darn DS-darn sloppy parent (gotta get a hold of myself aswell, I admit that). Tell him to keep it up 'cuz once posted here you're obliged to make it all the way Tom

Ha ha I like horrormovies alot but that has to be viewed in my other house wich provides a more suiting atmosphere. Sorry for confusing you a bit. The antique dyes is two component and black (or very dark) oil is one of the components and mahogany brown the other. The brown will penetrate the leather and the black stays more on top, filling out indents and such when it's wiped off but the way I've done with this case is to get a heavier cote and leave some off the black on top (and some of it rubbed into leather). Hope I set things straight for you now! Tom

Hey Roo! Thank you! HM society is short for Heavy Metal Society. The middle one has a mysterious reddish black surface that I don't know if I could replicate. Gotta keep in mind to experiment with that technique that actually was unintended for that bracer. I found your kitten attacks dog on youtube yesterday, hilarious! Tom

Thank ya'll! Getting right on with the tube and after that a ladies purse then another tube and then another tube. Yup, got order for a third tube. Got some wacked out ideas for that one so Luke I'll be right back on par I think. Guitarstraps, I keep the idea in mind when I come to it. Made the philips screwhead with a small screwdriver and I used a holepunch to make the circle. I wanted it to look like sinked down into the surface. I recommend doing those last thing when the casing is almost dried out otherwise the screwdriverpunch might not cut into the leather well and you'll end up with a strange stardepression. Hey Tammy, a swivel is great after you get past the learning curve. In Sweden I only get the Tandy stuff so I mostly use the ceramic blade or the filigree blade. The one's that comes with their standard knives are a bit clumsy when it comes to spinning the knife around close corners and such. Tom

Thanks Soda! I've sold much of my bracers to the HM society but hasn't flagged that direction that my shop is open again. I want to do other stuff now. Tom

Ha ha great story! Have you seen Leatheroos dog on youtube. Found that link today and we laughed whole family over this one. Tom

Got such nice comments on my Motörhead bracer that I got inspired to repost some stuff that went online pre-crash -08. those where made during last autumn when I picked up tooling again after some three years break due to neckproblems. Tom

Dont get stressed if you get a big fat layer of black oil that is drying up on you, it sits on top and will come loose even the day after. Some black might wanna sink in to the leather when rubbing and that won't come off. You'll have to experiment a little with this to get the feel for it. I'm not all that good with it either but I do think this is a tecnique that will give itself after some dabbling and as always duing leather is very unpredictable. If you get some interesting results you're welcome to post in this thread in case you don't feel like starting a new one or PM me with the image. Half of lacing the main tube was done tonite, phew, 4 hours. I watched Alien VS predator and Species meanwhile. I like softmovies when working. Tom

Your wife too!!! Man, I don't know if you're in trouble or just plain lucky, lol. Beautiful stuff from all of you. Tom

Hey Art! Amazing stuff, I don't like watches particularly much but that watch I'd love to wear even when going to sleep. Bookcover looks just fantastic! Oh, the rest of it too. Couple of weeks!!! Like half a year for me and it still wouldn't come out this nice. Way to go Art Tom